Drilling tool for producing geotechnical bores

ABSTRACT

A drilling tool, consisting of an hydraulic excavator  2  and a drilling unit  7 , is used for producing geotechnical bore holes. The drilling unit  7  is connected to the boom  5  of the hydraulic excavator  2  by way of a tilt head  15  with three degrees of freedom or three axes of rotation  16, 17, 18 , which allow for it to be easily moved into the most varied working positions, especially in such a way as to permit drilling action that is considerably above the standing surface of the hydraulic excavator 2.

DESCRIPTION

[0001] The invention relates to a drilling tool for producing geotechnical bore holes which is comprised of a drilling mast or a drilling unit, and the latter is allocated to the boom of a hydraulic excavator, and the hydraulic excavator has a revolving superstructure that can rotate in relation to an undercarriage and whose boom is connected to the revolving superstructure with the ability to swivel and can be actuated by way of boom cylinders.

[0002] A variety of hydraulically operated drilling tools are known in the art for the production of deep excavations. They are used to perform cement injections, rear anchoring and piling productions. An essential characteristic these drilling tools share is a kinematic arrangement of the drilling mast or the drilling unit, used to approach drilling starting points slightly above the road level of the construction site; and the drilling unit can be adjusted to certain angles of inclination. Drilling tools, working with vertically arranged drilling units, usually require that the drilling starting point is basically in the plane of the road level. However, the problem consists in the fact that in many cases drilling starting points are located considerably higher or lower than the road level and/or the standing plane of the drilling tool; also, most of the time, the drilling unit must additionally be adjusted to a certain inclination and direction. This applies especially when producing bore holes in order to secure ridges in tunnel construction, explosive bores in mining applications, anchoring bores with booms that can be lowered and adjusted underground etc. Similar problems also occur in connection with conventional hydraulic excavators with attachment booms, because the attachment booms can only be positioned via the boom of the hydraulic excavator.

[0003] Therefore, it is the subject-matter of the present invention to provide a drilling tool that will allow for the easy generation of bore holes even at positions high above the standing surface and in different directions.

[0004] According to the invention, the objective is achieved by allocating a tilt head to the drilling unit, which effects the connection with the boom; and this tilt head is realized as a device of the drilling unit that can specify several axes of rotation which are vertical to each other in relation to the boom.

[0005] With this connection of the drilling unit to the hydraulic excavator, essentially, the hydraulic and electrical controls of the excavators can be utilized, while they have to be adapted to the special way in which the drilling unit is linked to the boom. When implementing several axes of rotation that are perpendicular in relation to each other, a maximum of useful kinematic configurations of the drilling unit in relation to the hydraulic excavator results, and they can be optimally used both for drilling tasks and for transportation requirements. This sequence of the overall resulting kinematic degrees of freedom allows the drilling tool to work in a preferred position in such a way that the drilling unit is arranged in a hanging manner, i.e. the drilling head hangs below the boom. Especially when working very high above the road level, the rod change, the removal of drilled material as well as the introduction of a tension member are considerably simplified and within optimal view of the operator. In this context, it is possible to arrange the drilling unit transversely in relation to the travel direction of the hydraulic excavator as well as in relation of its direction of travel. This possibility of an alignment in the longitudinal direction offers the opportunity to deposit the drilling mast or drilling unit overhead, and for transport purpose the drilling unit is mechanically disconnected from the boom carrier.

[0006] According to a useful embodiment of the invention, it is envisioned that the tilt head is designed in such as way as to specify three axes of rotation; in particular, the first is realized in such a way as to allow for a swiveling of the drilling unit, the second enables a vertical rotation and the third axis of rotation allows for a rotation around the transverse axis of the drilling unit. This specifies three significant degrees of freedom, providing the opportunity to work with the drilling unit in the respectively preferred position without the necessity to move the hydraulic excavator or other transportation system into a correspondingly different position. The application areas, explained above, can thus be covered fully with the drilling tool according to the invention; but beyond this it is also possible to handle additional, more problematic situation in which drilling tools of this kind could not even be used until now.

[0007] The versatility of the drilling tool according to the invention is further increased by the fact that the degrees of freedom that can be achieved with such combined device types are fully utilized; and it is envisioned that the drilling tool with hydraulic excavator is realized in such a way as to exhibit additional degrees of freedom in addition to the three axes of rotation and/or kinematic degrees of freedom, i.e. in the travel direction, between the undercarriage and the revolving superstructure through an axis of rotation, through the connection of the boom and the boom cylinders, through the boom shifting cylinders in the longitudinal direction and the drilling drive unit in the longitudinal direction of the drilling unit in the form of translatory degrees of freedom. The first degree of freedom is exercised by the hydraulic excavator through movement in the travel direction. The second degree of freedom exists due to the fact that the revolving superstructure is arranged with the ability to rotate in relation to the undercarriage, and the third degree of freedom is utilized in that the boom is raised or lowered by way of the boom cylinder. Apart from these degrees of freedom, which are ultimately preset by the hydraulic excavator, two additional degrees of freedom are realized, i.e. based on the possibility of vertically moving the drilling unit in the longitudinal direction in the boom carrier and/or in the longitudinal direction and the drilling drive unit on the drilling unit.

[0008] In order to realize the three described axes of rotation, the invention envisions that the tilt head is realized in two pieces; and one head part is connected with the boom via the first axis of rotation and with the second head part via the second axis of rotation. The second head part serves as axis of rotation and holds the boom carrier that is arranged on it with the ability to rotate. By dividing the tilt head in two, it is possible to first arrange and realize one of the axes of rotation between these two head parts, while the second or the first axis of rotation is arranged between the first head part and the boom and the second between the second head part and the boom carrier. The arrangement of the second head part and/or its realization as an axis of rotation makes it possible to realize the boom carrier with the ability to rotate virtually all the way around or to such an extent that the boom carrier can be brought into all positions. Along with the boom carrier, naturally, the drilling unit also achieves this position and can then be optimally used in any position.

[0009] To allow for and to facilitate swinging around the first axis of rotation, it is envisioned that the head part is connected to the boom with the ability to rotate and to a cylinder via a swiveling lever, which protrudes in relation to the axis of rotation. Thus, the cylinder does not engage directly with the head part but by way of the swiveling lever in order for the appropriate forces to be applied safely. This ensures safe swiveling of the entire machine part, which is required for the drilling process, around the axis of rotation (16), in particular irrespective of the continuing position of the drilling unit.

[0010] The second swivel process is achieved and ensured in that the two head parts are connected via the second axis of rotation and a swiveling cylinder that enables a swiveling movement. This way, by actuating the swiveling cylinder, it is possible to swivel the second head part around the vertical axis of rotation in relation to the first head part, and thus practically around the boom of the hydraulic cylinder, in order to assume the desired or necessary position. Using the relatively small-built swiveling cylinder, this process can be preset from the hydraulic excavator or by way of remote control.

[0011] In order to create and simplify the necessary force for swiveling the second head part around the first and thus for swiveling the drilling unit around the boom, it is envisioned that the swiveling cylinder is connected to the head part and the second head part via a cylinder suspension or an adjusting lever. Thus, a simple piston extension will produce the swiveling motion, and this swiveling motion is preferably achieved easily and with an appropriate radius because the cylinder can accompany the swiveling motion.

[0012] This smooth swiveling or rotating motion of the boom carrier and thus of the drilling unit is achieved, because the boom carrier is arranged orthogonally and with the ability to rotate in relation to the degree of freedom (FG5) around the head part.

[0013] The appropriate rotational movement of the boom carrier and, consequently, of the drilling unit around the appropriate axis of rotation, which again is located horizontally, is achieved by allocating to the boom carrier a link mechanism that generates the rotational movement, consisting of two hydraulic cylinders, articulating levers and coupling links; and the lower hinge points are connected with the head part. By connecting the lower hinge points to the head part, the swiveling process can be accomplished safely and quickly by applying the appropriate hydraulic cylinders.

[0014] Previously, it has already been pointed out that one of the described degrees of freedom is achieved by arranging the drilling unit and the boom carrier in a sliding manner in relation to each other. According to a useful further development, this longitudinal displacement is achieved by positioning the drilling unit in the boom carrier in a longitudinally displaceable manner and allowing it to be displaced in relation to the boom shifting cylinder. The boom shifting cylinder is connected with its piston to the drilling unit and with its cylinder housing to the boom carrier, whereupon, due to the actuation of the boom shifting cylinder, the drilling unit is either retracted or extended. As the other movements, this motion too is introduced and carried out by actuating the hydraulic cylinders. The drilling drive unit can also be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the drilling unit, specifically in a manner that is known in the art, and it is possible to use different drive systems.

[0015] It is useful to envision that the axis of rotation between the first head part and the boom is realized in such a manner as to permit a pivoting angle of 52°, respectively, in relation to the vertical zero position, and that the axis of rotation between the two head parts is realized in such a manner as to permit a pivoting angle of 100°, and the latter is composed of a sector pivoting angle of 90° to one and of at least 10° in relation to the opposite side.

[0016] Furthermore, it is useful to envision that the axis of rotation around which the boom carrier is arranged and realized with the ability to rotate is able to achieve a total pivoting angle of 180° and higher. This way, it is possible to swivel the boom carrier, if needed, from the vertical position into a position that deviates from that position by up to 180°. Of course, this also means that it can swivel to both sides by 90°, i.e. it can be swung by a total of 180°. Provided the link mechanism that affects this movement is realized accordingly, it is also feasible for it to swivel beyond this point. The invention also envisions that the boom carrier is designed in such a way that it can swivel via the link mechanism utilizing the total pivoting angle, which is divided into two equal partial pivoting angles. This link mechanism consists of the two hydraulic cylinders, an articulating lever and a coupling link, as explained previously.

[0017] The invention is characterized by the fact that it provides a drilling tool that can create bore holes even at great height above the standing surface, while easy adjustments into all directions is conceivable due to the preset three axes of rotation, which are arranged perpendicular in relation to one another. This allows creating a much more versatile drilling tool on the basis of an hydraulic excavator, which is principally already available on the market, because the drilling unit can be lifted and swiveled with the assistance of the appropriate drive units or hydraulic cylinders in such a way as is required for the respectively applicable circumstances. Despite the resulting versatility, establishing the connection is relatively simple, allowing the corresponding drilling tools to be realized with hydraulic excavators of a variety of different designs.

[0018] Further details and advantages of the subject-matter of the invention can be derived from the subsequent description of the accompanying drawing which shows a preferred embodiment, including the appropriate details and components. The figures show:

[0019]FIG. 1 a side view of the drilling tool,

[0020]FIG. 2 a partial view of the drilling unit from above and

[0021]FIG. 3 a partial view of the drilling unit from the direction of the hydraulic excavator.

[0022] FIGS. 1 to 3 represent a complete drilling unit 1 including an hydraulic excavator 2. For reasons of simplicity, the hydraulic excavator has been omitted from FIGS. 2 and 3. The description in the following is based on a right-handed Cartesian system of coordinates with x pointing in the travel direction of the hydraulic excavator 2, y crosswise in relation to it from the focal plane and z perpendicular from the standing surface of the hydraulic excavator 2 upward. The x-y plane is equivalent to the standing surface 14 of the hydraulic excavator 2.

[0023] In the present instance, the hydraulic excavator 2 has an undercarriage 3 in the form of a crawler gear, and the revolving superstructure 4 is arranged in conjunction with the boom 5 with the ability to rotate around the undercarriage 3. This degree of freedom is indicated as FG2, while the first degree of freedom FG1 extends in the x-direction.

[0024] The boom 5 has boom cylinders 6 that can be used to raise or lower the attached drilling unit. The resulting degree of freedom 10 is designated as FG3. These degrees of freedom, normally available on such units, are therefore designated with the symbols 8, 9 and 10.

[0025] The drilling unit 7 is connected to a boom carrier 11 to a boom drilling head 12 to the boom 5; and the boom drilling head 12 is equipped via two angles 13, 13′ in order to allow for the safe sliding or movement of the drilling unit 7 around boom carrier 11.

[0026] At the end of the boom 5, the tilt head 15 is connected, with the ability to rotate, on the y-axis exhibiting the degree of freedom FG4; and this axis of rotation is designated with the symbol 16. The tilt head 15 is swiveled around the boom eye via the so-called cylinder 29 and/or around this axis of rotation 16, while a swiveling lever 28 establishes the connection to the cylinder 29. This allows for the corresponding swiveling action of the drilling unit 7 around this axis of rotation 16.

[0027] The tilt head 15 consists of the head parts 26 and 27; and as referred to previously, the head part 26 is connected to the boom 5 via the axis of rotation 16. The two head parts 26, 27 are connected to each other via another axis of rotation 17 with the degree of freedom FG5, allowing the head part 27 to rotate around the head part 26. This swiveling process occurs, as shown in FIG. 2, with the assistance of the swiveling cylinder 31, which is connected to the head part 26 via a cylinder suspension 32 and connected with its cylinder to the head part 27 via an adjusting lever 33. Establishing the connection of the swiveling cylinder 31 to the head part 26, on one hand, and to the head part 27, on the other hand, can also be established by mounting, based on a simple modification, the entire adjusting device 31, 32, 33 to the opposite, free side, thereby considerably increasing the possible adjusting angle range for FG5 and thus the axis of rotation 17.

[0028] The boom carrier 11 is arranged in an orthogonal relationship with the axis of rotation 17, and thereby the degree of freedom FG5 with the ability to rotate around the tilt head or the head part 27. The rotatory degree of freedom, in this view around the x-axis, is designated FG6 or with the term axis of rotation 18. This movement is made possible due to a link mechanism 35, consisting of hydraulic cylinders 36, 37, articulating levers 38 and coupling links 39, and the lower hinge points 40, 41 are not connected to the boom carrier 11 but to the head part 27, allowing for the relative rotation. FIG. 3 illustrates a corresponding situation.

[0029] The drilling unit 7 is positioned with the ability to be displaced in a longitudinal direction in the boom carrier 11. Using the boom shifting cylinder 23, the drilling unit 7—here marked, as an example, in the z-direction- can be shifted in a translatory manner with the degree of freedom FG7 in relation to the boom carrier 11. The last translatory degree of freedom FG8 or 22 in the sequence is represented by the movement with the hydraulic drilling drive unit 24 on the drilling unit 7. The translatory degree of freedom FG7 is designated with symbol 21.

[0030] The kinematic component assembly in form of the head part 26, which first follows the boom 5, has the rotatory degree of freedom FG4, which is represented by the axis of rotation 16, in particular around the y-axis. A total pivoting angle 44 of 2×52° is achieved, while the pivoting angle 44 is divided around the vertical zero position.

[0031] The second, subsequent kinematic component assembly in form the head part 27 has a rotatory degree of freedom FG5, shown by the axis of rotation 17 around the z-axis, while a total pivoting angle 45 of at least 100° is achieved, which, most usefully, is asymmetrically divided into a sector pivoting angle 46 of at least 90° to the one side and in a sector pivoting angle 46′ of at least 10° to the opposite side. The cylinder adjusting device with the swiveling cylinder 31 for the head part 27 is easily modifiable for the opposite side at any time. In that case, with regard to the degree of freedom FG5 or the axis of rotation 17, a total pivoting angle of at least 180° with symmetrical allocation is realized.

[0032] The kinematic component assembly following the head part 27, the so-called boom carrier 11, is allocated to the above-described kinematic group by way of a rotary joint or an axis of rotation 18 with a rotatory degree of freedom around the x-axis FG6. A total pivoting angle 47 of at least 180° can be achieved, which is divided into two equal partial pivoting angles. Advantageously, the total pivoting angle is achieved by way of the link mechanism 35. Based on this special realization, it is possible to swivel the boom carrier 11 to the left or to the right from the position shown in FIG. 3, in particular by 90°, respectively, resulting in the total pivoting angle of 180°. This swiveling process takes place by way of the link mechanism 35, while the realization also allows for the possibility to swivel the boom carrier 11 slightly beyond 90° respectively. With an appropriate realization of this link mechanism 35, it is conceivable to reach a swiveling motion of the boom carrier ranging considerably beyond 90°, should this be necessary.

[0033] Moreover, as mentioned previously, the drilling unit 7 has an hydraulic shifting device consisting of the boom shifting cylinder 23, i.e. a translatory degree of freedom FG7 designated with the symbol 21, with an adjusting path of at least 2,000 mm. The degree of freedom FG8 was addressed above.

[0034] The longitudinal axis of the drilling unit 7 is designated with the symbol 20, the transverse axis with 19. The drilling unit 7 can swivel around the axis of rotation 17, which runs parallel in relation to the longitudinal axis 20, and, furthermore, the drilling unit 7 can swivel around the transverse axis 19, in particular with the assistance of the link mechanism 35.

[0035] All the characteristics that were referred to above, including those that can be derived solely from the drawings, are considered essential aspects of the invention, both alone and in combination. 

1. Drilling tool for producing geotechnical bore holes with a drilling mast or a drilling unit (7), and the latter is allocated to the boom (5) of an hydraulic excavator (2), and the hydraulic excavator which is comprised of a revolving superstructure (4) that is able to rotate in relation to an undercarriage (3) and whose boom (5) is connected to the revolving superstructure (4) with the ability to swivel and to be actuated via boom cylinders (6) is characterized by the fact that a tilt head (15), which effects the connection to the boom (5), is allocated to the drilling unit (7) and which is realized as a device of the drilling unit (7) that can specify several axes of rotation (16, 17, 18) that are perpendicular in relation to one another vis-a-vis the boom (5).
 2. Drilling tool as claimed in claim 1 characterized by the fact that the tilt head (15) is realized in such a way as to specify three axes of rotation (16, 17, 18); and the first axis of rotation (16) is realized to allow for a swiveling of the drilling unit (7), the second (17) for a vertical rotation and the third axis of rotation (18) is realized to allow for a rotating motion around the transverse axis (19) of the drilling unit (7).
 3. Drilling tool as claimed in one of the previous claims characterized by the fact that the drilling tool (1) with hydraulic excavator is realized in such a way as to exhibit additional degrees of freedom in addition to the three axes of rotation (16, 17, 18) or kinematic degrees of freedom (FG4, FG5, FG6), in particular in the travel direction (FG1), between the undercarriage (3) and revolving superstructure (4) through an axis of rotation with the degree of freedom (FG2), through the connection with the degree of freedom (FG3) of the boom (5) and the boom cylinder (6), through the boom shifting cylinder (23) in the longitudinal direction and the drilling drive unit (24) in the longitudinal direction of the drilling unit (7) in the form of translatory degrees of freedom (FG7 and FG8).
 4. Drilling tool as claimed in one of the previous claims characterized by the fact that the tilt head (15) is realized in two parts, and wherein one head part (26) is connected to the boom (5) by way of the first axis of rotation (16) and with the second head part (27) by way of the second axis of rotation (17), while the second head part (27) serves as axis of rotation (18) and holds the boom carrier (11), which is arranged with the ability to swivel around it.
 5. Drilling tool as claimed in one of the previous claims characterized by the fact that the head part (26) is connected to the boom (5) with the ability to swivel around the axis of rotation (16) and connected to a cylinder (29) by way of a swiveling lever (28), which protrudes in relation to the axis of rotation (16).
 6. Drilling tool as claimed in one of the previous claims characterized by the fact that the two head parts (26, 27) are connected to each other by way of the second axis of rotation (17) and by way of a swiveling cylinder (31) that makes the swiveling action possible.
 7. Drilling tool as claimed in one of the previous claims characterized by the fact that the swiveling cylinder (31) is connected to the head part (26) and to the second head part (27) via a cylinder suspension (32) or an adjusting lever (33).
 8. Drilling tool as claimed in one of the previous claims characterized by the fact that the boom carrier (11) is arranged orthogonally and with the ability to rotate in relation to the degree of freedom (FG5) around the tilt head or the head part (27).
 9. Drilling tool as claimed in one of the previous claims characterized by the fact that the boom carrier (11) has a link mechanism (35) allocated to it, which generates the rotational motion, consisting of two hydraulic cylinders (36, 37), articulating levers (38) and coupling links (39), and wherein the lower hinge points (40, 41) are connected to the head part (27).
 10. Drilling tool as claimed in one of the previous claims characterized by the fact that the drilling unit (7) is positioned in the boom carrier (11) in a longitudinally displaceable manner and that it can be displaced via the boom shifting cylinder (23).
 11. Drilling tool as claimed in one of the previous claims characterized by the fact that, between the first head part (26) and the boom (5), the axis of rotation (16) is realized in such a way as to permit a pivoting angle (44) of 52°, respectively, in relation to the vertical zero position.
 12. Drilling tool as claimed in one of the previous claims, characterized by the fact that the axis of rotation (17) is realized in such a way as to permit a pivoting angle (45) of 100° between the two head parts (26, 27), and wherein said angle is composed of a sector pivoting angle (46) of 90° to the one and (46′) of at least 10° to the opposite side.
 13. Drilling tool as claimed in one of the previous claims characterized by the fact that the axis of rotation (18), around which the boom carrier (11) is arranged and realized with the ability to rotate, can achieve a total pivoting angle (47) of 180° and more.
 14. Drilling tool as claimed in one of the previous claims characterized by the fact that the boom carrier (11) is realized in such a way that it has the ability swivel by way of the link mechanism (35), utilizing the total pivoting angle (47), which is divided into two equal partial pivoting angles. 